Hog-trough



(No Model.)

J, R. LUCAS. HOG THOUGH.

No. 564,207. Patented July 21, 1896.

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JAMES R. LUCAS, OF OUTVILLE, OHIO.

HOG-TROUGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,207, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed March 11, 1896. Serial No. 582,809. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs R. LUCAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Outville, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hog-Troughs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which it appertains to make and. use the same.

As is well known to farmers and others familiar with the rearing and customs of hogs, it is their habit to get into the feed or swill trough with both front and even all four feet. In doing this afew of'the larger or more agile and strong exclude those less favored in these respects and appropriate the larger and choicer parts of that which is intended for the general good.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a trough of simple and economical construction that will insure a more equitable distribution of the good things provided for these animals; and while my invention frustrates, to some extent, the operation of the law of the survival of the fittest among hogs, it promotes the monetary interests of the farmer in that it insures a greater number of these animals possessing the desired embonpoint for the market.

In the accompanying drawings, in different views of which corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference, Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the lid for excluding the hogs while the trough is being filled being shown as closed in full lines and open in dotted lines. Y

1 designates the trough, and 2 the end pieces thereof. The lid or cover is composed in the main of three parts 3, 4, and 5. The part 3 is hinged to the end pieces 2 by means of arms 6, secured along the ends of the part 3.

The angle which the part 3 makes to the trough, and consequently the opening which affords the access of hogs to the trough, may be regulated and fixed by means of rods 7, pivoted to each end piece of the trough. The rods 7 have a series of holes 8, through any of which a pin 9 may be passed into the ends of the part 3 to fix that part in the position to which it may be adjusted. The part 4 of the cover is hinged to the upper or inner edge of the part 3, as shown, and is provided with a handle 10 outside the pen, by means of which the part 4 may be raised or lowered to open or close the inner entrance to the trough. When the part 4 is up it may be held in that position by a hook ll, turned over the handle, as shown in dotted lines. Then the part 4 is lowered to close the entrance to the trough,

it may be held in that position by means of a cord 12, secured at the under side of the part 4 and passed outside the pen, where it is fastened to anything fixed, but preferably by a turn or two around a oleat on the back of the part 3.

The part 5 is somewhat like a valve. It is hinged at ends to the upper edges of the end pieces, as shown at 13, and closes the opening between the lower edge of part 3 and upper outer edge of the trough 1, through which the swill or feed is poured into the trough. The part 5 is pivoted off center, so that the weight of its lower part shall throw the upper part to close automatically the feed-supply opening.

By means of the door or part 4 the hogs can be excluded from the trough until after the slop or feed has been supplied to the trough, when it is raised by means of the handle. By means of the pin 9 and the holes 8 in the rod 7 the part 3 may be adjusted to make the opening affording access to the feed just sufficiently large to admit the heads or snouts of the hogs, and so prevent one or a few from securing a monopoly of the contents of the trough.

It will be evident also that my construction excludes rain-water and snow from the trough, avoiding the formation of ice, and preventing the annoyance and trouble of removing these from the trough.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a feed-trough, of a cover composed of parts 3 and 4, the part 3 being hinged at one edge to the part 4 and at the opposite edge to the trough, the rod 7 pivoted to the trough and having a series of being hinged at one edge to the part 4 and at I the opposite edge to the trough with a supply opening between. the said part 3 and the trough, the rod 7 pivoted to the trough and provided with a series of holes 8, a pin 9 to pass through the holes and engage the part 3, and a hinged cover 13 to close the aforesaid opening, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a feed-trough, of a cover composed of parts 3 and 4;, the part 3 being hinged at one edge to the part 4 and at the opposite edge to the trough, the rod 7 pivoted to the trough and having a series of holes 8, a pin 9 to pass through the holes and engage the part 3, the handle 10 rigid on part 4, and hook 11 on part 3 to engage the handle to hold the said part 4 open, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination with a feed-trough, of a cover composed of parts 3 and 4, the part 3 being hinged at one edge to the part 4 and at the opposite edge to the trough, the rod 7 pivoted to the trough and having a series of holes 8, a pin 9 to pass through the holes and engage the part 3, the cord 12 connected to part 4:, and a cleat on part 3 to receive the cord to secure the part 4L closed, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with a feed-trough, of a cover composed of parts 3 and 4, the part 3 being hinged at one edge to the part 4 and at the opposite edge to the trough, the rod 7 pivoted to the trough and having a series of holes 8, pin 9 to pass through the holes and engage the part 3, the handle 10 rigid on part 4, hook 11 on part 3 to engage the handle to hold part 4: open, the cord 12 connected to part 4:, and a cleat on part 3 to receive the cord to secure the part 3 closed, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. LUCAS. Witnesses:

GEORGE M. FINcKEL, JAS. S. RIOKETTS. 

